Five days after the city announced that residents can have two hours of free parking in downtown Topeka, businesses are already noticing a change.

Juli Cuthbertson, the owner of Juli’s Coffee and Bistro at 110 S.E. 8th Ave., said the free parking has already resulted in a change in traffic at the store.

“I have noticed more morning traffic,” she said. “There has been nothing but an overwhelming positive response.”

For Cuthbertson the free parking window lets her customers stay without worrying about adding money to the meters.

The free parking initiative on the side streets started after construction on S. Kansas Ave. blocked parking on the east side of the street and will last through the end of 2014, according to Suzie Gilbert, the communications director for the city.

Then, when the construction switches to the opposite side of S. Kansas Ave. in 2015, there will be free parking on those sets of side streets, Gilbert said.

Cuthbertson’s shop is located on a side street and she has seen old customers return after the announcement was made.

“I had people tell me they wouldn’t come back after getting an $8 ticket,” she said.

That frustrated her because Cuthbertson said she spent three years at a location at Huntoon and Gage trying to build a customer base.

But now, with some of those customers returning and new customers staying longer Cuthbertson is no longer worried.

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The City of Topeka and it's downtown parking problems, i.e., parking tickets, parking meters and overzealous meter maids, is the REAL problem. Why would any tax paying citizen put up with such harassment? We can park for free anywhere else in town!!

Kind of bothers most folks that the "downtowner idiots" can't see the forest for the trees....that's why downtown will never work. Did it ever occur to anyone why rent is so cheap downtown?

The money from parking meters and fines is used to pay the revenue bonds issued for the parking garages. Will those bond payments now come from property taxes? Another short term feel good move by the city manager that will ultimately cost taxpayers money.